Slug casting machine



Mar cih 28, 1933. A. v. GILBERT 1,902,847

SLUG CASTING MACI' IINE Filed March 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,zzz W A PATH/E VE/L fiERT/nuentor A ltorney March A. v. GILBERT SLUG CASTING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1931 :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 LIA LW/E VD/LBERT lnvenlor By Attorney March 28, 1933.

A. V. GI LBERT SLUG CASTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 12, 1931- ARCH/E VE/LEIIL'HT mentor Attorney Patented Mar. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE ARCHIE V. GILBERT, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON SL'UG- CASTING MACHINE Application filed March 12, 1931. Serial No. 522,084.

My present invention relates to improvements in slug casting machines and particularly to the mechanism by means of whlch the pair of vise-jaws are operated to clamp the composed line or matrix preparatory to the casting operation. The invention is involved in an attachment which may readily be'applied to typesetting machines now in use, without materially altering the construction thereof, for the purpose of automat1 eally moving both of the VlSG-lfiWS. By means of the improved jaw-operating mechanism the vise-jaws are operated in such manner that the characters of the matrix may be directly and accurately centered upon the slug, andany inaccuracy in the position of the matrix is rectified by the movement of the jaws in closing or centering.

The operating mechanism for the vlseaws is actuated through the movement of the justification bar and its rods, by means of which movement the jaws are closed or centered, and the opening or separating movement of the jaws is accomplished by movement of the elevator slide, the upward movement of the justification rods and of the elevator slide being employed for these pur poses. o

The operating mechanism includes a palr of duplex j aw-operating levers having a scissors movement for closing and opening the jaws, and means are employed whereby either lever may be rendered inactive while the other lever remains active, for use in quadding out right or for quadding out left, wlthout necessity for employing quads.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood that changes and alterations may be made therein, within the scope of my claims, without departing from the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing so much of a linotype machine as is necessary to illustrate the utility and operation of my attachment, showing the parts in normal position. 3

Figure 2 is a similar view with the jaw operating means in a different position, and the viseaws moved inwardly or centered.

Fi re 3 is an enlarged, rear elevation showing the parts as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 4 1s a top plan view, with parts omitted for convenience of illustration, of the device as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view transversel of the left hand vise-j aw, showing the sli able jaw between the vise-frame and the cap of the vise-frame, at line 5--5, Figure 3. v

Figure 6 is a perspective view, enlarged, of the locking block employed to secure or look the left hand vise-jaw in adjusted position.

Figure 7 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing the locking block of (Figure 6 and also its tubular attaching s u Figure 8 is a detail view in side elevation of the automatically operated tripping device by means of which the two vise jaws are reset in normal position, after the centering movement quadding left movement, or quadding right movement of the vise-j aws.

In the assembly Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings I have illustrated the usual vise frame 1, and its cap 2, together with the vertically reciprocal elevator slide 3, its guides 4, and a portion of its connecting rod 5. A portion of the intermediate channel 6 is indicated, through which the line is passed horizontally to its position above the space between the right hand vise-jaw 7 and the left hand vise-j aw 8, between which jaws the line is clamped while the slug is being cast.

Both the vise jaws are relatively movable toward and away from one another to secure the adjustment necessary in varying the distance between the jaws according to the length of the composed matrix lines or line from which line the slug is to be cast or molded.

The jaws are fashioned with guide plates 9 and 10 that are guided, and slide in the slot 11, fashioned between the under side of the vise cap 2 and the top edge of the vise frame 1, as best seen in Figure 5, and as shown by dotted lines in Figure 4.

The left hand vise jaw 8 is adjusted by means of an annularl grooved rod 12 which extends through and 1s slidable in the spaced bosses 13, 13 of an auxiliary T-frame 14, which is bolted at 15 to the cap frame 2.

The right hand vise-jaw 7 is adjusted by means of the horizontal adjusting rod 16, which passes through the guide plate of the left-hand jaw 8, as seen in Figure 5, and is slidably supported in bearings 17 (or bosses) at the upper end of the T-frame 14.

The T-arm or frame 14 supports the jaw operating mechanism, and the latter is operated or actuated on the up stroke or movement of the vertically movable justification rod 18, which, with its complementary rod 19, slides in bearings 20 of the vise frame to cause the justification bar 22 to perform its usual function on the line. The justification bar is elevated in usual manner by the diagonally arranged strut or link 23 which is loosely connected to the justification bar.

One of the justification rods, as 19, is equipped with an adjustable collar 24 that may be fixed in the desired position on the rod by means of a set screw or bolt 25, and this collar, which of course moves with the rod, is provided with a lifting spring 26 that fricti-onally engages the under edges of the actuating or rocking lever 31 of the jaw-operating mechanism, to operate the rocking lever as the rod 19 rises. This spring 26, or any other suitable yielding connection, is employed in order that the justifier may at times move the vise jaws into contact with the line without looking the justifier bar.

The lifting spring 26 has sufficient strength or tension to hold the right hand jaw 8 while the space band is being driven up.

The T-frame 14, at its lower end is fashioned with a rectangular head plate 27, and at 28, a bracket arm 29 is secured to the stationary head plate, said arm also being secured, as at 30, to the vise frame 1. As best seen in Figure 3 it will be apparent that the T-frame and the bracket arm are rigid with one another and also rigid with the vise frame, and these parts are utilized to sup-' port the actuating and operating parts of the jaw-mechanism.

For actuating the operating mechanism the lever 31 is fulcrumed at 32 on the bracket 29 with the free end of the long arm of this lever located in the path of movement of the spring 26 that is mounted on collar 24, which collar reciprocates with the justification bar or rod 19. The free end of the shorter arm of the rocking lever is slotted at 33 to provide a loose hinge connection by means of pin 34, with a lever arm 35 that is actuated by the lever 31 when the latter is lifted by the lug. The lever arm 35 is fulcrumed, as at 36 on a bracket plate 37 that is rigidly secured to and spaced from the bracket 29, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2, and near its outer end this lever arm is slotted at 38 for a loose pivotal connection through a pin 39 mounted on the back face of the vertically reciprocable slide head 40. As seen in Figure 3 the slide head 40 isfashioned with spaced dovetail grooves or way's'41 that slide along the opposite edges of the stationary guide plate 27 to insure a stable, vertical, reciprocation of the slide head 40.

At its opposite sides the slide head is fashioned with lateral arms 42, 42, in which are mounted the spaced pins 43 and 44, and these pins co-act with a pair of L-shaped jaw-levers or operating levers 45 and 46 which are pivoted together at 47 on the guideplate 27.

The short angular arms of the two operating levers are slotted as at 48 and 49, the slots extending outwardly to the ends of the respective arms, as seen in Figure 3, to permit the scissors or pivotal movement of the L-shaped operating levers on their common fulcrum 47 as the pins 43 and 44 rise and fall with the slide head 40.

It will thus be apparent that as the justification rods 19 and 20 rise on their upstroke to elevate the justification bar 22 into contact with the space bands, the rocking lever 31 is actuated by contact from the rising spring 26, and through the lever arm 35 the Znovement is transmitted to the slide plate The L-shaped operating levers 45 and 46 are duplicates in construction and operation, and these duplex levers are turned on their common pivot 47 as the slide plate 40 is elevated. The long arms of the duplex, L- shaped, jaw operating levers are thus swung toward a common center, through arcs of the same length, and at the same rate of speed.

The upper end of the operating lever 45 is slotted to receive pin 45a of the pivotally mounted block or clamp member 50, through which passes the adjusting rod 16 of the right hand vise jaw 7, which rod, as heretofore stated, slides in bearings 17 and in an opening in the frame-cap 2, as well as through the left hand vise jaw 8. The clamp block or pivotal clamp head 50 is secured or fixed on the adjusting rod in suitable manner in order that when the lever 45 is swung to the right in Figure 3, the right hand jaw 7 is moved to the right. The upper end of the jaw operating lever 46 is also slotted to receive pin 46a of a pivotally mounted clamp head 51, through which passes the adjusting main idle or stationary, as when quadding out right or quadding out left.

Thus a stationary clamp head 53, similar to the clamp head 51 is adapted to receive the lock pin 52, and this pin may be removed or withdrawn from the head 51, and inserted in the head 53, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3. The withdrawal of the pin from head 51 disconnects the lever 46 from the rod 12, and the insertion of the locking pin in the fixed head 53 locks the rod in the head, thus permitting the lever 46 to.

swing'on its pivot and also permitting the loose clamp head 51 to slip back and forward over the rod 12. Thus, under these conditions when quadding right, both levers 45 and 46 swing on their pivot, but only the lgver 45 moves its adjusting rod and its Jaw d When quadding left the screw 43 (Figure 3) is removed, thereby disconnecting the lever 45 from the slide plate 40, and the latter may be lifted Without effecting the osition of the lever 45, thus rendering t at lever idle. I

Assuming that both vise jaws have been moved, to center or equalize the line of characters between the jaws, and that the justification bar and their rods have descended, the elevator slide, 3, rises and the u ward movement of the elevator slide is utihzed to separate or withdraw the vise jaws into normal position (Figures 1 and 3) for the next slug to be cast.

At a suitable point on the elevator slide 3, a contact roller 54 (Figure 8) is mounted, and in the path of movement of the roller is located the cam face 55 of a rock-arm 56 that is pivoted at 57 on the vise-frame 1. At one end of the rock-arm, at 58 is pivoted a link 59, and the upper end of the latter is pivoted at 60 on the rocking lever 31.

The re-setting operation takes place as the elevator slide rises, and it will be apparent that the contact of the roller with the cam face rocks the lever arm 56 to position of Figure 8 thereby pulling down on the link 59 and the free end of the rocking lever 31, from the dotted line position to the full line of Figure 8.

The locking device for the right hand jaw is illustrated at the upper right hand corner in Figures 1 and 2, and in, detail in Figures 6 and 7, where the detached hollow block or housing 61 is provided with an opening 62 into which the right hand jaw may slip. The tubular stud 63 of the hollow block is adapted to fit over the jaw-locking stud found upon typesetting machines with which my attachment is to be'employed, and a set bolt 64 is threaded into the tubular stud to fix the hollow block in proper position. The usual vise-cap locking screw is or may be inserted into the opening 65 of the hollow block, for locking the jaw in the usual manner.

From the description and drawings illustrating the operation of both of the jaws, it will be apparent that the jaws may be moved exactly the required distance and at the exact same speed for clamping the composed line that is presented to the jaws, and the quadding eflects are accomplished by the two jaws, without recourse to the use of quads, unless the line is of a minimum length, as for instance six ems. In the latter in stance only a number of quads suificient to make up the six ems" is required. Thus the manual labor of quadding right or quaddingleft is dispensed with and the quadding eflect is automatically accomplished with a material saving of time and labor.

Should the matrix be presented to the jaws in an inaccurate or turned position, the combined movement of the two jaws is instrumental in correcting or rectifying the po sition of the matrix, and the jaws, together with the matrix, effectually close the opening of the mold, thus eliminating the danger of a squirt of lead when the cast is being made.

Having thusfully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1 1. In a slug casting machine, the combination of a pair of opposed, relatively movable jaws, duplex means for operating the jaws, means for rendering one of the jaws inactive, actuating means for the operating means, a justification rod and means carried thereby for co-action with the actuating means in centering the jaws, an elevator slide, and means carried by the slide for co-action with the actuating means in re-setting the jaws.

2. In a slug casting machine, the combinationwith a pair of relatively movable, opposed, jaws and adjusting rods therefor, of a pair of levers having a common fulcrum and connected with said rods, actuating means for the levers, a justification rod and means thereon for co-action with the actuating means for centeringthe jaws, an elevator slide, and means on the slide for coaction with the actuating means in re-setting the jaws. c

3. In a slug casting machine, the combination with a pair of relatively movable, opposed jaws, of a pair of levers having a common fulcrum and adapted to operate the jaws, means for rendering one of said levers inactive, actuating means for the levers, means carried by a moving part of the machine for co-action with the actuating means in centering the jaws, an elevator slide and means carried by said elevator slide for 00- able jaws and adjusting rods connected to said jaws, a justification rod, and an elevator slide, of a pair of operating levers connected with said rods, means for rendering idle one of 5 said levers, actuating means for the levers, means on the justification rod for co-action with the actuating means in centering the jaws, and means on the slide for co-action with the actuating means in re-setting the jaws.

5. In jaw-operating means for a slug casting machine, the combination with a pair of L-shaped operating levers having a common fulcrum and a support therefor, of actuating means, and a movable element connecting said actuating means and levers for imparting a scissors movement to the latter.

6. In jaw-operating means for a slug casting machine, the combination with a pair of levers having a common center for a fulcrum and a support for the fulcrum, of a reciprocable element for imparting a scissors movement to the levers, and actuating means for said element.

7. In jaw-operating means for a slug casting machine, the combination with a pair of L-shaped levers having a common fulcrum and a support therefor, of a slide head reciprocable on the support and 'connections between said head and levers for imparting a scissors movement to the levers, and means for actuating said head.

8. The combination with a supporting frame having a guide plate, of a pair of L-shaped levers having a common fulcrum on said plate, a slide head on the plate, connections between said head and levers, and means for moving the head to impart a scissors movement to the levers.

9. In jaw-operating means for a slug casting machine, the combination with a frame having a guide plate, of a pair of L-shaped levers having a common fulcrum, a slide head on the plate and pins on said head having a slot-connection with ,the levers, and means for sliding the head. Y Y

10. In jaw-operating means for a slug casting machine, the combination with a frame having a guide plate, of a pair of L-shaped levers having a common fulcrum on the plate and said levers having slotted short arms, a slide head on the plate, pins on said head engaging the slotted arms, a rock-lever and means for actuating said lever, and a pivoted gave; arm connecting the rock-lever and said In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ARCHIE V. GILBERT. 

